Wednesday, October 21, 2009

a little of this, a little of that

I know I'm not alone in feeling this big old tangled up ball of emotions right now. In fact, Chris just posted about this very thing. Missing Dewey fiercely. Aching over the empty place where she should be. And yet so full of love...love for Dewey, love for all the incredible friends who are feeling just the same as I am, love for books and reading and this wonderful celebration of it all that Dewey began as a gift to us. Chris used the word "bittersweet" and I think that says it perfectly.

I already posted a list of my read-a-thon pile books...but uhhh...I may have some additions. (You know, because the 20-some already on the pile might not be enough. Hahahahahahaha.) See, I went a little crazy at the library today. But I'll get to that later.

Now, as for food:

Feast your eyes on this...

Should I be in need for a little pick-me-up now then, I will look no further than this box of heaven. This enormous box of chocolate decadence was awaiting me on my doorstep when I arrived home from the library today!!! It arrived from this very sweet lady! I did some small thing to surprise her, both because she is just a genuinely lovely person and because she is a friend of the beautiful Pat. All I wanted was to put a smile on her face...but my goodness, look what she sent me. Should you read this, thank you again, Naomi! It was so very unnecessary, and yet is so very much appreciated.
Of course, I guess I can't live on chocolates alone (though I might willing to give it try!), so also in our line-up for the day will be: enormous fruit salad and a coffeecake for breakfast, subs for lunch, order-in pizza for supper, rotel dip and salsa and chips for late night snacking (all made the night before, of course). And I will prepare a pile of healthy snacks for the boys that they can just grab at will, so I won't have to cut up apples, etc. throughout the day (they are major league grazers).

My coziest pjs are freshly laundered and ready to be donned after my morning shower.

My charity has been chosen. RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network). For a lot of reasons, this just seems to the organization calling loudest to me at the moment. Because of all the heartbreaking stories I've heard this past month. And maybe because of my own story. And well, I just know this is a choice that Dewey would fully support as well. (Thank you, Ana, for bringing this organization to my attention.) Haven't decided what sort of system to go with yet...flat amount, by page, by hour, etc.

*****
Going to be a somewhat book-ish night around here. Rich and Annie are off to see Lois Lowry. And the boys and I are off to the book fair and storytelling event. I probably shouldn't say this, but I think Rich got the luck of the draw this time. But I know the boys and will have fun. And Rich is going to try to get Gossamer signed for me. :D

Haven't "looted" in a while. Been trying desperately to concentrate on my own books. But this breakdown was inevitable. I've been dying to go out and buy a huge old pile of books...damn this book buying ban. So this is sort of my escape valve. I realize that this isn't a big pile for most people, but I feel so dang guilty for checking all these out when I know I can't possibly get them all read.

Sorry for the sucky picture...guess you can't really even read those titles, can you? Here's what in that pile:

Subject to Debate by Katha Pollitt*The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto Che Guevara*I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti*Red Spikes by Margo LanaganBlankets by Craig Thompson*Jar of Fools by Jason LutesCry Bloody Murder: A Tale of Tainted Blood by Elaine DePrinceBerlin: City of Stones (Book One) by Jason Lutes

(Books with asterisks are subject to blame. See below.)

*****
And finally, it's been a long time since I've passed out blame. Probably because I've really been quite good at not accumulating so many books. :D This round is almost over (if I'm not mistaken, it lasts until the end of this month), so there will possibly be one more batch to hand out before a winner/pusher is announced.

Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff. Point for Megan! You know, if I'm not mistaken, this review was one of the very first posts of Megan's I ever read. :D (Book acquired through PaperbackSwap, which is allowed according to the terms of my book buying ban.)High School Confidential: Secrets of an Undercover Student by Jeremy Iversen. Point for Kara! When she mentioned this book, I immediately added it to my wish list. She does not get off the hook simply because she was nice enough to send it to me. :DThe Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. Point for DesLily! Though honestly, I'm tempted to give her four points, as this is technically four books in one! Here's the post that sealed my doom. (Also acquired through PaperbackSwap.)Subject to Debate by Katha Pollitt. Care to guess? Yep, of course, it was Nymeth! Though technically it was not this particular book she reviewed. First there was this review and then today, there was this review. However, this was the only one of Pollitt's books that our library had on the shelf.The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey by Ernesto Che Guevara. Point for Jason! I have to admit that I used to be extremely intimidated by Jason. And now that I found out he's just as sweet and down-to-earth as can be, I'm afraid my book accumulation problem is only going to get worse...he reads some awesome non-fiction books. (As far as his fiction reading, well, that pretty much still intimidates me.)I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti. Point for Eva! Normally, it's she who is racking up non-fiction blame points, but this time it's a fiction read. 'Cause like I could resist after this review...yeah, right.Blankets by Craig Thompson. Point for Dewey! And you know, I sort of love that I'm wrapping up with a point for her...because, geez, I just love how much she still influences the reading of so many of us. :) Yep, Chris, bittersweet, for sure.

OMG I want to eat those chocolates right now!!! Seriously..now I want to go buy a big old box of chocolates so I can just pop one into my mouth every now and then during the readathon :p And how did I forget the rotel dip when I was putting together my snacks :p I should definitely make some of that too :p Though I really have enough snacks.

You said it perfectly when you were talking about Dewey, Debi. I've been missing her a lot lately too because I know the anniversary of her death is coming up. Which makes this a little harder. But at the same time, it makes it all the more special. That sounds really morbid, I know, but I hope you know what I mean...it's a celebration of her life of what she gave us and what she continues to give us!

And RAINN is just a perfect donation choice!! I think..no I KNOW that I'm going to donate to them in April. Tori Amos works very closely with them and they're an amazing organization that does so much for survivors. Thanks for donating to them Debi :) You'll help a lot of people!

And I'm so jealous of Rich and Annie :p I just had to get that in there!! I hope you get Gossamer signed! How cool would that be to have a signed copy of such a wonderful book?? And I hope that you had a great time too at the book fair!! I totally know how you feel by the way about wanting to just go out and buy a huge pile of books :/ I think I might just have to do that when Amanda and Jason come to visit :/

Make Lemonade is a wonderful read. Just finished it last week and really enjoyed it. I picked up the second in the Make Lemonade trilogy at the library, and it is very possible that this one might make it into my Read-a-Thon pile.

Nice remembrance of Dewey, too. I was new to the book blogging world when she passed away so I didn't know her as well as others, but she is very much a part of us still.

And RAINN has a wonderful reputation in the nonprofit world. Very good choice.

Tomorrow, I'll be posting a picture of my read-a-thon pile. It's RIDICULOUS! lol I agree that bittersweet is the perfect description...and my favourite chocolate! (Because that picture you posted is evil! Except my mom got me some delicious organic, fair trade very dark chocolate AND I have the hot chocolate you sent in my pantry, so I'm not exactly chocolate deprived...)

Yay! Candy! I'll eat gumdrops and think of you with your chocolates while I do :). BTW, do you want my copy of 'How the Other Half Lives', when I'm done? I'd never seen it for sale before, and Amanda found it for me by chance at the library book sale, so I imagine you'll have trouble finding it,and while you can see it online, it has far fewer pictures, and they're not very good quality. Let me know :). I think I'm going to have a leftist party over the next few months, because I'm itching to read Mr. Che, as well, and Emma Goldman, and a few others :). Glad you're excited about readathon! And don't be intimidated by my fiction - I couldn't make it through half the stuff you read! :D

OOOOOH CHOCOLATE!! I've already decided that my opening vlog will be not about the books I may or may not read but of all the snacks I will and will eat. :) Because, you know, what's a read-a-thon without snacks galore?

I know the read-a-thon is bittersweet, but I just think that Dewey would have wanted us to carry on in her name. And remember her.

Yeah, like you really need anymore books! I am loving how people seem to have books to last them for 24 days instead of just 24-hours! lol

I didn't know Dewey as well as others, but I did know her, so I have actually thinking about the anniversary of her death, too. It's hard to believe it is almost here! On the other hand, I think that the last thing Dewey would want is her death to be worth note... She'd want people to concentrate on happy anniversaries, so while I am sure everyone will be sad, I hope people will concentrate on the good, too! Does that make sense...?

Happy read-a-thon, Debi! I have to look through your pile in more detail. Last time I ended up adding several books to my library pile...

Debi, you read my mind! I got Jar of Fools just the other day :D And no, no ban breaking was involved, as comics are allowed :P It sounds awesome, though, doesn't it? And I was so excited that it has an intro by Sherman Alexie!

Hooray for Pollitt! That collection covers the years between the two I read, actually. I'm sure it will be good, as they always are!

Mmmm, chocolate. They look so good!

And finally, as I told Chris, it WILL be bittersweet *hugs* :( But let's remember that Dewey would kick us if we didn't have fun :P

Amanda,Yeah, you know, I really should have known that someone as sweet and special as you would marry someone sweet and special, too, shouldn't I? :D #luvamanda #luvjason

Jean,Weeeell, I gotta admit, a few have already disappeared...I really should hide the box until Saturday. Or better yet, have Rich hide it.

Melody,Yes, he did get my book signed... ;)

Christina,I'm really looking forward to both those books! :D

Chris,LOL...isn't that the thing about read-a-thon and snacks though...it seems like the perfect excuse to eat all those yummy goodies you don't normally indulge on, but when it gets right down to it, how many snacks can you possibly fit in 24 hours anyway. ;)Yeah, and when you try to go blame that book buying splurge on Amanda and Jason, we're going to see right through that, you know! :D

Melissa,You know, I'd actually picked up the second in the trilogy before, because it was a Printz book, not realizing that it was part of a trilogy. So now I'll be all set once I finish Make Lemonade...gotta love that. :D

Amy,Yeah...I'm with you!!! Choices are good, right?!!

Eva,I can't wait to see your pile in its entirety!!! Oh and if I could just get half as much read as you will, I'd be such a happy camper. Of course, I won't, despite the fact that you're going to be so busy keeping everything running smoothly as well.

Jason,You are too sweet!!!! I'd love to read your copy of How the Other Half Lives!!! And I know Annie would, too. What a sweet, sweet offer! And I swear I'll send it back as soon as we finish. Thank you! :DAnd btw, you've now got me craving gum drops. :)

Trish,You crack me up..."all the snacks you will and will eat"!!! But ain't that the truth?!! The read-a-thon is like license to be a glutton, despite how awful it makes you feel in the long run. :D

Nymeth,You're right...she would! And really, that's what I keep telling myself...we get to celebrate our beautiful friend! *hugs*That's so weird about Jar of Fools, but somehow I'm not surprised. :) Seriously, I'd never even heard of it before yesterday; it was just a totally impulse pull from the library shelves. And I agree, it sounds totally awesome!

Feeling much the same you are in regards to Dewey, but I'll post about that during the 'athon. Have a great time! The snacks sound lovely (will be making some Rotel dip myself), and your stack of books is great!

It was also a total random find for me! (My favourite indie bookstore is across the road from the museum - oops :P They're small, but they have a wee comics section! Somehow I smell danger...) As they say, great minds think alike ;)